Wimbledon Common, Roehampton on Saturday 05/03/1881 (Senior Men)
CROSS - COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP
The fifth annual race for the cross-country championship came off over the Roehampton Course last Saturday. The distance to be covered is estimated at eleven miles and three-quarters and owing to the late rains was fearfully heavy. The following is description of the course:- Starting from the Drying Grounds, Roehampton, past the Well House, across the Kingston road Wimbledon Common, leaving the Windmill on the right-hand, down the Lingfield road, through several passages to the S.W. Railway, across the rail, across the fields to Morden Park, back over the railway, through West Barnes Farm to Coombe and Malden lane, past the Chapel and over Whittle's Farm fields, and through Cottenham Park, past Christ Church, through the village, of Crook and Billet on to the Common, leaving the Mill on the left, home to the Well House, over which trail was laid by Messrs, A. B. Robb, G. A. Bolton, W. W. Ball, and F. B. Lewis, the T.H.H.
Nine clubs were represented, and among them furnished 106 starters, the South London Harriers having eighteen runners; Birchfield Harrier's, Thames Hare and Hounds, Clapton Beagles, and Spartan Harriers twelve each; Moseley Harriers and Westbourne A.C. eleven apiece; and Blackheath Harriers and Isledon Harriers, nine each. There was, despite the bad weather; a very large number of spectators to witness the start, but rain coming very heavily when the men had been sent their long journey for about half hour, the company lessened very fast. Still, at the Well House, and for some distance the course, there was little difficulty in clearing a track for the competitors, who had a very narrow lane to run through to the judge. At the signal, Alexander, Hill, and Lockyer got off first, but all but the first-named soon gave way, and at the top the hill the leaders were Alexander, Dunning, and Stenning. After going a mile Cattlin took first place his immediate followers being and Dunning, Alexander, Stenning, and three others being close up.
At the Railway, Law raced by Dunning into first place, but was soon passed by the latter, who went on, with Snook in close attendance, Nehan and Alexander, who had been prominent all through, coming next. The two, Snook and Dunning, as home was neared drew right away from the others, and had a punishing race home. Two hundred yards from the finish, Snook led by a couple of yards, but Dunning the commencement of the ascent to the Well House made a determined effort, and raced by. He led by some eight yards a hundred yards from the finish, but came back to Snook, and first one and then the other gained little advantage, and a splendid finish resulted in favour of Dunning by a short foot, in 1 hour 11 min. 58 sec.; Stenning nearly a minute later, came third, with Alexander fourth. As the club scoring the fewest marks take first place, the Moseley Harriers win, Birchfield Harriers are second, and the South London Harriers third.